Multiple bulb floodlight mounting for cameras



Dec. 26, 1950 e. SCHAEFFER ETAL 2,535,372

MULTIPLE BULB FLOODLIGHT MOUNTING FOR CAMERAS Filed Aug. 25, 1947 3/. I 27/072376, -f4- r Jf g) I fem/1&Q f

Patented Dec. 26, 1950 "MULTIPLE .BUIJB FLO ODL'IGI-IT .MOUN TING FOR CAMERAS Gerald Schaeifer and S am is cliaefi er, Chicago,.lll.

AppIicationAuguS'FZS, 1947, Serial No. 770,542

.3 Claims. 1

"Our "invention relates to a mounting for (cameras adapted to hold aiplurality of flood br flash ilight bulbs to furnish satisfactory lighting .for indoor photography without the use of extra itripodsor -fiood light mountings.

Among the objects of our invention is to :provide a mounting for cameras, which is adapted to:hold fromoneto four flash or flood light bulbs, to provide a mounting which eliminates the use of imore than one tripod in indoor photography, 1 to provide a mounting which simplifies indoor photography and which is economical to use and manufacture. Another object'of our inventionis .to provide such a .mounting in which the posiitionsof the bulbs can be varied so as to furnish :anytyp: of lighting desired by simple manipulation of the device and without the use of additional lighting facilities.

Our invention alsocontemplates such other ob- .jects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear, and which are inherently possessed .by our invention.

While we have shown in the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments .of .our .inven tion, yet it is to be understood .that thesameare susceptibleof modificationand change without departing from .the spirit of our invention.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. l is a' front elevational view of one embodiment of our 'fiood light mounting for cameras; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is 'a detailed sec'tional exploded view of the same; Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram of the same; Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the same in one adiusted position.

A prefcrred embodiment of our invention comprises a handle portion 38 'whi'chis shaped so as .tobeigripped by hand. The bottom-of handle 38 is provided with a screw threadedrecessl ,which is adapted to fit on a tripod or other customary means of camera mounting.

Integral with handle portion is camera amounting 3-2 which extends transversely to said handle 38 equidistantly on each side. Extending .outwardl-yirom the top of said oamera mounting 32 is an 'arm 33 which is provided with :a screw threaded opening 34 for holding the camera thereon.

openings which "fit over said so'ckets.

2 3'1 and as of "a "shape which continues the-circle described 'by circular "portions 35 and :35. Each end of mounting :32 adjacent circular portions 35 and 36 is beveled at a 45 angle for a short distance.

Mounting 32 is hollow "and houses :a pair of push button switches '39 and 49, which are mounted on the back of mounting .32. Switches .39 and 49 are connected to a TC'Old which leads through :an opening in the .bottom of mounting 32 to a suitable source of volt electrical supply.

"Circularportions 35 and 36 are hollow and are provided with openings through their centers, through which openings pass bolts 42 and 43. Bolts '42 and A3 also pass through the centers of 'circular'ends M and 45 of 'a pair of channels 43 and ii, thus attachingsaid channels to mounting 32. Circular ends '44 and 45 are identical in shape and construction with circular portions 35 .and 35 of mounting 32. Channels 46 and 4-7 have are shaped recesses ti! and 61 which correspond with recesses 3"! and 38. The ends of channels 55 and A? adiacent circular *ends 44 and-i5 are beveled at a 45 angle for a short distance. The ends 'of bolts 12 and 43 are provided with wing nuts 48 and is. channcls lfi and a: are enclosed on their sides, end and bottom and have over their tops covers 59 and 54, which'are attached by screws or friction grip.

Near the 'endsof channel 46 are mounted two sockets 54 and 55. Said sockets areheld within channel 45 by means of screws 52 and 53 in the bottom of said channel, and said sockets are of size adapted to hold a flash or flood light bulb. Cover'il of channel 4% is provided with suitable openings which fit over said sockets. Sockets 54 .and% are'wired in -parallel with each other and .are connect'ed to switch 39. The wiring is contained within :channel 45 (and passes through hollow circular end 44 and circular portion 45 to switch 39 .in the hollow interior of mounting 32.

.Near the ends of channel 4! are mounted two sockets '58 and 59. Said sockets are held within channel =4? :by means of screws '56 and 5.! in the bottom of said channel, and said sockets are of size adapted toh'old a flash-or flood light bulb.

Cove-r -5:i of channel 47 is provided with suitable Sockets 5.3 and 53 are wired in parallel with each other :and are connected to switch 415. The wiring is contained within channel 41 and passes through hollow circular end 45 and circular portion 35 to switch 40 in the hollow interior of mounting 32.

Upon the loosening of wing nut 48 on bolt 42, circular end 44 of channel 46 is free to rotate within are shaped recess 37. Channel 46 may be rotated to any position through a half circle, or 180 angle and held in any desired position by the tightening of wing nut 48. Further rotation in either direction is prevented by the meeting of the beveled ends of mounting 32 and channel 46, which acts as a stop member to prevent further movement. The angle of rotation of channel 45 extends from upwardly perpendicular to mounting 32 to downwardly perpendicular to mounting 32. Channel 41 operates identically with channel 45 and may be rotated in exactly the same manner described above. The rotation of each of said channels is independent of the other. If desired, suitable spring tension means may be employed to maintain said channels in fixed rotated position instead of using wing nuts 48 and 49.

In operation, our device provides'four sockets for flash or flood light bulbs, any one or more of which may be used. Lights may be positioned close to the camera, away from the camera or both. Lights may be positioned above the camera, below the camera, or both. Lights may be positioned to the right of the camera, to the left of the camera, or both. It is thus possible to obtain any desired type of lighting without the use of any tripods, mountings or equipment other than the customary camera tripod.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A multiple bulb iloodlight mounting for cameras adapted to provide variable lighting for indoor photography comprising a camera mounting adapted to be removably mounted on a camera tripod, said camera mounting having means for removably holding a camera thereon, said camera mounting having a circular portion and an adjacent are shaped recess portion at each end, a pair of channel arms having circular portions and adjacent are shaped recess portions at one end, a pair of bolts extending through said circular portions to hold said circular portions together so that the ends of the circular portions of said channel arms are positioned within the are shaped recess portions of said camera mounting and the ends of the circular portions of said camera mounting are positioned within the arc shaped recess portions of said channel arms, said bolts having a screw-threaded end, a pair of screw-threaded wing nuts attached to the screwthreaded ends of said bolts, said channel arms adapted to be pivoted on said bolts independently of each other through an arc of 180 from vertically upward to vertically downward with respect to said camera mounting, said wing nuts adapted upon being loosened and tightened to permit the rotation of each of said channel arms to any desired position within said are and to hold each of said arms fixed in said position to provide any desired angle of photographic lighting, each or said channel arms containing a pair of electrical light sockets adapted to receive photographic fioodlight bulbs, a pair of electrical switches mounted on said camera mounting, an electrical inlet in said camera mounting, electrical wiring contained within said camera mounting and channel arms extending from said electrical inlet to said switches and through the circular portions of said camera mounting and channel arms to connect the sockets in each of said channel arms to one of said switches and electrically in parallel with each other and means for connecting said electrical inlet to a suitable source of electrical supply.

2. A multiple bulb fioodlight mounting for cameras adapted to provide variable lighting for indoor photography comprising a camera mounting, said camera mounting having means for removably holding a camera thereon, a pair of channel arms having their ends pivotally attached to said camera mounting at opposite ends thereof, each of said channel arms adapted to be pivoted independently through an arc of from vertically upward to verticall downward with respect to said camera mounting, means for fixedly holding each of said channel arms at any position within said are to provide any desired angle of photographic lighting, each of said arms containing a pair of electric light sockets adapted to receive a photographic floodlight bulb, said sockets adapted to face the same direction at all times, regardless of the positioning of said arms, electrical wiring contained Within said camera mounting and channel arms to operate the flood light bulbs in said sockets and means for connecting said electrical Wiring to a suitable source of electrical supply.

3. A multiple bulb floodlight mounting for cameras adapted to provide variable lighting for indoor photography comprising a stationary member, said stationary member having means for removably holding a camera thereon, a pair of movable arms having their ends pivotally attached to said stationary member at opposite ends thereof, each of said movable arms adapted to be pivoted independently from the other of said movable arms through an arc of substantially 180 from vertically upward to vertically downward with respect to said stationary member, means for fixedly holding each of said movable arms at any position within said are to provide any desired angle of photographic lighting, each of said movable arms having an electric light socket adapted to receive a photographic fioodlight bulb, said sockets adapted to face the same direction at all times, regardless of the positioning of said arms, electric wiring contained within said stationary member and movable arms to operate the fioodlight bulbs in said sockets and means for connecting said wiring to a suitable source of electrical supply.

GERALD SCHAEETER. SAM SCI-IAEFFER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

serial 876. 2 sheets; copy received in U. S. Patent Ofiice, October 17, 1936. 

